Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (49)

Internal Classified Records

A moment later, following the Snow Flame Empress to the study of the grand mansion.

[Research on Interdimensional Phase Discontinuity]

[Design and Experimental Verification of Dimensional Observation Devices Based on Imitation Worlds]

[Changes in Mana Consumption Due to Interdimensional Time Ratio Deviations…]

“Is there anything that might be helpful?”

At the cautious question, Lee Si-hyeok turned his head.

Vast amounts of documents numbering in the dozens and hundreds.

Countless neatly organized books filled the tall bookshelves to capacity.

“It’s certainly as the Snow Flame Empress said.”

Lee Si-hyeok, who had been looking around the study for a moment, opened his mouth.

“From the moment I entered the study until now, most of this is information I’m seeing for the first time. It seems to be classified material… where did you find all of this?”

“From around the world. It took me quite a long time as well.”

As if proving her words, the bookshelves also contained quite a few books written in unrecognizable languages. They were truly the essence of magical engineering collected from traveling around the entire world.

However, the Snow Flame Empress smiled bitterly and spoke once more.

“You don’t seem particularly impressed. It appears my gift hasn’t satisfied your expectations.”

“…It’s not particularly like that.”

“I can tell by looking. I’m not a fool either. Besides, you still haven’t answered my first question, have you?”

Lee Si-hyeok could only smile bitterly in the end.

The question about whether there was anything helpful. He had deliberately changed the subject without answering, but she seemed to have already noticed.

Just because it’s information he’s seeing for the first time doesn’t necessarily mean it’s helpful.

For example, even if it was an unfamiliar research record like the ‘Research on Interdimensional Phase Discontinuity’ he had just seen in the study.

From the beginning, Lee Si-hyeok already possessed more advanced information in the process of understanding Origin Artifacts.

Simply put, it was outdated information. Compared to what was in his head.

“It can’t be helped. I understand your situation completely as well. Just collecting all of this by yourself is already impressive.”

“I didn’t collect it all by myself.”

“Pardon?”

When he asked back wondering what she meant, the Snow Flame Empress shrugged as if it was nothing.

“You don’t need to worry about it. Anyway, did you have a good look around?”

“Had a good look? Are you already telling me to leave?”

“Of course not. If you want, you can stay as long as you like. If you find it comfortable, you could even move your residence here.”

“That’s a bit…”

Even though she said that, he was thinking of looking around more.

But the smiling Snow Flame Empress said something unexpected.

“You seem to be under some kind of misunderstanding.”

“…?”

“You think this space is everything. Do you really think I would have spoken so confidently about showing you just these things?”

Lee Si-hyeok put down the paper with his eyes wide open. Could it be.

“Follow me.”

Before that thought could continue, the Snow Flame Empress began walking ahead.

The place they arrived at was a dead-end bookshelf in the study.

Beyond this point, only books filling the wall could be seen, but Lee Si-hyeok, who had activated 『Eyes that Pierce the Essence』, could sense it.

“…There was a hidden space.”

―Clunk!

When the Snow Flame Empress infused mana, the middle of the bookshelf split apart.

“This is where things several times more important than those stored outside sleep. There probably won’t be that many things here that will satisfy you either… but take a look around once.”

The Snow Flame Empress who said that couldn’t help but smile.

Even before her words finished, Lee Si-hyeok was already walking forward as if entranced. There was no time to stop him. Well, there was no need to anyway.

‘Really…’

He’s consistent.

However, there was something the Snow Flame Empress was concerned about.

She didn’t know exactly what Lee Si-hyeok had learned in Orbes, but she knew roughly how much growth he had achieved.

He must have reached a level that was hard to even imagine.

Would there be content here that could satisfy such a Lee Si-hyeok? Although she had spoken confidently, she couldn’t help but feel nervous inside.

Of course, these weren’t carelessly collected materials.

To find Orbes, to return home. The very essence of magical engineering accumulated through living desperately for a single goal.

However, the fact that Lee Si-hyeok might dismiss even those as ‘common knowledge’ made her feel slightly dizzy.

“This is…”

But fortunately, Lee Si-hyeok stopped in front of a display case.

As if he had made some great discovery, he opened his eyes wide and stared intently at a piece of paper stored inside the display case.

Not wanting to miss this opportunity, the Snow Flame Empress hurriedly ran over and stood beside him.

“Hmm, this is material I remember as well.”

She unsealed the display case and carefully took out the paper.

[Eterion Magical Engineering Academy Internal Classified Record No. 842-03]

[Incident Summary

· During club activities on campus, a large-scale mana fracture occurred while the club ‘Ether Society’ was conducting independent research.

· After securing CCTV footage following the incident, mana attraction exceeding critical limits was confirmed from a portal-type fracture formed in mid-air.]

[Damage Status

· All 7 students present at the scene went missing after being caught in the fracture.

· Only 3 people succeeded in returning 7 days after the incident occurred, and the remaining 4 are presumed to have all died.]

[Measures Taken

· The 3 returned students are currently under quarantine and medical…^#$#]

[All investigations and measures are to be concluded within Eterion Magical Engineering Academy.]

[This case is classified as an internal academy matter, and external disclosure is prohibited.]

‘Eterion Magical Engineering Academy.’

In South Korea, no, in the world, there exist specialized academies that professionally teach magical engineering.

Previously, only Hunter training institutions that fostered combat-type awakened Hunters existed, but it was determined that courses for crafting types were also necessary.

For this reason, they can be seen as institutions operated to train engineers who have gone through more systematic processes.

And awakened individuals who graduated from specialized academies receive much higher evaluations than those who graduated from regular schools.

‘In other words, it’s the elite course.’

Among them, Eterion Magical Engineering Academy is South Korea’s representative specialized academy.

The Association’s selected 11 researchers, and engineers who made a name for themselves are mostly from Eterion.

As such, naturally Lee Si-hyeok had once dreamed of entering Eterion as well.

But as always, he hit the wall called reality.

Non-awakened. Eterion wasn’t generous enough to accept a child who hadn’t even awakened. Originally, Eterion was famous for being a closed and conservative academy.

Even if he had awakened, it would have been impossible due to his circumstances anyway.

Well, he’s not particularly envious now.

All those processes. All those terrible emotions like envy and inferiority complex had become his fuel and fertilizer.

He’s rather grateful for it.

Which means.

The reason he stopped after seeing this document was somewhere else.

“…Doesn’t this look very similar to a dimensional gate?”

When he asked quietly, the Snow Flame Empress smiled as if she had expected it.

“I knew you would recognize it. I investigated this incident for that very reason as well.”

The information Lee Si-hyeok needed most right now was precisely about ‘dimensions.’

The matter about the Imitation World can be put aside for now. Orbes and Elec are safely confined, and there’s no need to create world-class artifacts separately for the time being.

However, matters concerning dimensions are different.

‘I need to visit the hidden Orbes.’

The residents of Orbes are developing magical engineering at a tremendous speed for Lee Si-hyeok.

To collect the rewards from such automatic hunting, he must personally visit Orbes again.

But the method was unclear.

〈Hollow Trace〉 exists, but its conditions are so demanding that reconnecting dimensions is nearly impossible.

So he would need to fully understand its principles and design before attempting it again.

However, the rifts that appeared in this incident bore a striking resemblance to dimensional gates.

This was probably what the Snow Flame Empress meant during dinner when she said ‘someone on Earth has already attempted the Imitation World first.’

“When I recently pushed Elec into a new Imitation World. It was the same method then too. A rift appeared in the air, and tremendous suction pulled everything in.”

“I remember it too. I was busy blocking the swarming Infected, but I definitely felt it.”

“If there’s a difference… it would be that this incident failed.”

Moreover, with 4 people presumed dead, they probably don’t even know which dimension it connected to.

However, for students who hadn’t even graduated, this was a truly tremendous experiment. Even though it failed, just creating a rift would have been an impossibly difficult task.

‘I might be able to get some clues.’

Inspiration doesn’t just pop up from sitting still.

If there’s something needed, one must actively move to get it.

“Where did you obtain this record? I see it’s marked as internal classified information.”

“…It wasn’t acquired legally. As you know, Eterion Magic Engineering Academy is a strict place. Unlike what the word ‘academy’ suggests, all information is controlled.”

He roughly understood her words.

The her of this time was blindly obsessed with finding Orbes, and would do anything for that goal.

That aside, he couldn’t quite understand why the academy covered up an incident where students died. No matter how strict, was this really right?

‘…That’s not what’s important right now.’

It’s an incident from several years ago anyway.

Among the countless information in the study, this was the only useful content that emerged.

Then it would be right to dig deeper into this.

“Is this the end of the records? Isn’t there more?”

“That was all I could find. The security was too thorough, I’m sorry…”

The Snow Flame Empress’s face momentarily became dejected. After being downcast for a while, her eyes suddenly sparkled as if something occurred to her.

“Come to think of it, I remember hearing about survivors!”

“Survivors?”

“Yes! The 3 people who survived the rift!”

Lee Si-hyeok listened intently to her excited tone.

If they narrow it down starting from the 3 survivors, progress would only be a matter of time.

“You probably know these people too.”

“…Is that so?”

“You’ve even met two of the three face to face. That’s certain. I was there with them too.”

The Snow Flame Empress put down the paper.

Her odd eyes stared directly at Lee Si-hyeok.

“Yoon Seo-jin and Pyo Jae-hwan.”

“…”

“Those were the two.”

* * *

Some time later.

Lee Si-hyeok, having finished his long yet short rest, finally returned home.

Perhaps because he had spent what felt like several months in Orbes and the Snow Flame Empress’s mansion, the apartment he had longed for somehow felt awkward.

Still, there’s no place like home.

“I’m back.”

He muttered unnecessarily as he entered the empty house.

Still, this time was a bit different since he wasn’t alone. Lee Si-hyeok chuckled and pulled out Blackie, who was squirming in his pocket.

“Mang!”

Seemingly surprised by the unfamiliar space, the creature opened its mouth wide, then came down to the floor and began scurrying around excitedly.

“You adapt really fast.”

Are you fearless? Though he grumbled, he liked how the gloomy house felt more lively.

Isaac had always been with him, but since that guy only moved around in stealth mode, honestly it was hard to tell if he was there or not. His presence was just too minimal.

As he sat on the sofa enjoying the cozy atmosphere, Blackie, who had been scurrying around, approached with a piece of paper in its mouth.

“What’s this.”

The creature climbed onto his thigh and placed the paper down.

Checking it, he found it was the mail he had picked up from the common entrance earlier.

He was going to open it anyway, so Lee Si-hyeok opened it without hesitation.

“It’s from the Awakener Association?”

[We invite Mr. Lee Si-hyeok to the ‘Global Artifact Seminar.’]

And as he casually looked down, he saw the list of other invited people.

The moment he checked that list.

[Professor Hong Yong-jin]

[Researcher Yoon Seo-jin]

[Researcher Pyo Jae-hwan]

[Eterion Magic Engineering Academy affiliated, ‘Ether Society’]

His excited mood instantly became calm.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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